Martin’s artistic journey started at age 14 when he left his hometown of Buena Vista, Georgia, to embark on a hitchhiking adventure to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., before settling in New York. In the Big Apple, he worked as a street hustler, bartender, gambler and drag queen. He even gave fortunetelling a try at age 37.

In 1957, after the death of his mother, Martin came home to Georgia and continued his fortunetelling flair for pay. Donning ravishing robes and feathered headdresses, Eddie moved into his mother's old farmhouse and used his oracle occupation to help fund his vision of Pasaquan.

Martin also changed his name to St. EOM (pronounced Ohm) and became the first Pasaquoyan. He continued to work on the art environment for 30 years, creating six major structures, mandala murals and more than 900 feet of elaborately painted masonry walls.

Pasaquan lavishly fuses African, pre-Columbian Mexico and Native American cultural and religious symbols and designs, along with motifs inspired by Edward Churchward’s books about “The Lost Continent of MU.”

After a few years of declining health, St. EOM committed suicide in 1986. Pasaquan began to fade — literally and figuratively. For 30 years, the Pasaquan Preservation Society (PPS) worked tirelessly to preserve the site. During 2014, philanthropic organization Kohler Foundation Inc., PPS and Columbus State University partnered to bring the visionary art site back to life.

ST. EOM Speaks

PRESENT

“I built this place to have something to identify with. Here I can be in my own world, with my temples and designs and the spirit of God. I can have my own spirits and my own thoughts.”

- St. EOM

Today, Pasaquan is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered among the most important visionary art environments in the United States.

To revitalize the site, philanthropic organization Kohler Foundation Inc., PPS and Columbus State University partnered to restore the artistic masterpiece. After two years of restoration, Kohler gifted Pasaquan to CSU’s foundation.

Columbus State University faculty, staff, students, and alumni have been directly involved in documentation of Pasaquan, the organization of archives and assisting with the conservation process. CSU alumni and students have worked with professional conservators from International Artifacts (Houston) and Parma Conservation (Chicago).

FUTURE

“Pasaquoyanism has to do with the Truth, and with Nature, and the Earth, and man’s lost rituals."

- St. EOM

For St. EOM, Pasaquan represents the future. It is his personal utopia, where all cultures and ethnic groups can come together in harmony and connect with the earth and the universe.

At Pasaquan, St EOM incorporated both spiritual concepts from ancient cultures and futuristic ideas of levitation transportation. In the end, St. EOM was able to communicate the traditions of Pasaquoyanism to the viewers of the future with colorful, pluralistic designs that cover the entire site.

Connecting to his genius to unite cultures and the universe around them, Columbus State University developed a mission, vision and education goals that celebrate and champion the humanitarian values Eddie Martin exhibited in his work.

CSU will also host performances, retreats, tours, artistic workshops and various education-focused programs and activities at Pasaquan to introduce visitors to St. EOM’s extensive body of creative work for years to come.

ABOUT

Mission:

Columbus State University's priority is to preserve, maintain, provide access to and assist in the interpretation of Pasaquan.

Vision:

We aspire to give visitors a unique insight into the intuitive artistic process by engaging them through diverse programming, interdisciplinary workshops, lectures, seminars, retreats and performances.

Pasaquan Education Goals:

Establish curricula that center on Pasaquan;

Foster partnerships through comprehensive community outreach and service learning opportunities;

Develop programming that is culturally enriching and engenders respect for visionary art and the creative differences of others;

Create workshops and encourage seminars, which promote self-exploration; and

Deepen visitors understanding of visionary art and inspire them to express themselves creatively.

MEMBERSHIP

Become a Pasaquoyan: While Pasaquan is open to everyone, you can join and enjoy St. EOM’s member events. All donations and membership fees will assist Columbus State University with the programming of this internationally recognized environmental art site.

Membership Opportunities:

Neophyte: $25

Neophyte (student) members will receive newsletters and invitations to special members-only events.

Individualist: $35

Individualist members will receive the same benefits as the Neophyte membership.

Co-conspirators: $100

Co-conspirators membership includes up to four family members. Members will receive newsletters and invitations to special members-only events as well as invitations to family activity days, and Pasaquan coloring pages included in the newsletters.

Technicolor Dreamer: $500

This is a patron-level membership and includes one-year unlimited admission, newsletters, invitations to special members-only events and one private tour a year for 20 of your family and friends.

Pasaquoyan: $1,000

This is a lifetime membership. It includes unlimited admission, newsletters, invitations to special members-only events and one private tour a year for 20 of your family and friends.

Donate: All donations will assist Columbus State University to maintain this national treasure. Your support provides essential funding that will help preserve St. EOM's utopian vision of the future into the future.

Help us maintain St. EOM’s Pasaquan by becoming part of the movement to preserve this otherworldly historical site.

EVENTS

Artist and Resident Lecture

SEPTEMBER 16TH - SEPTEMBER 22ND 2018

LOCATION/HOURS:
Columbus State University Corn Center for the Visual Arts
SEPTEMBER 18TH - 5:30 PM

California artist, Matthew F. Fisher, will be the Pasaquan Artist and Resident from Sept. 16th - Sept 22nd. Fisher exhibits internationally and his works are deeply influenced by outsider art and the works of the Chicago Imagists. He will spend his days on the grounds of Pasaquan developing a series of drawings inspired by his experiences on the sites. Fisher will be giving a lecture about his recent paintings at Columbus State University, Corn Center for the Visual of Arts at 5:30 P.M. on Tuesday, Sept. 18th.

Pasafest

Join us, Nov. 10th for Pasafest! The Pasaquan Preservation Society has organized this festival to highlight the cultures of the Southeast. Throughout the day, we will be offering blues, rock, and folk music as well as visual artists who are known for their Folk and Self-Taught styles. Following the tradition of St. EOM’s life, we will also be offering handpicked food vendors, fortune tellers, performers, and much more! Pasafest is a step toward fulfilling our mission as a society by producing programming and fundraising events that will help preserve as well as educate people about this world-renowned visionary art environment!

On the evening of Nov. 10th Omaha Brewing Co. is offering campsites at the Brewery for festival goers, if interested, please choose "Admission + Camping" as your ticket option to save your spot! Campers may set up camp starting at 10 A.M., and there will be a shuttle taking festival-goers to and from Omaha Brewing Co. for no extra cost. Sites are limited so, save yours today!

Gates Open at 10 am. pre-purchase your tickets at Eventbrite for $20 or purchase at the gate for $30

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

Pasaquoyan in the City: Fashioning a Southern Saint

SEPTEMBER 26TH 2018

On the heels of a significant grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation, Institute 193 is opening a collaborative project space called "1B" in New York City’s East Village on September 26th. The inaugural exhibition features the work of St. EOM, presented in collaboration with Columbus State University and the Pasaquan Preservation Society. The drawings selected reflect the time St. EOM spent in New York post-vision and pre-Pasaquan, as he was building his new identity and belief system and advancing his unique artistic style that has become so iconic in the world of self-taught and “outsider” art. Curated by Annie Moye and Mike McFalls

PARIS INTERNATIONALE

OCTOBER 17TH-21ST 2018

Pasaquan and St. EOM will be represented at the Paris Internationale by the Atlanta Contemporary. Dan Fuller, the curator of the Atlanta Contemporary, will be bringing a group of drawings from the CSU archives to put on display at the Art Fair.

In the Land of Pasaquan: The Story of Eddie Owens Martin

NOVEMBER 8TH 2018 - JANUARY 12TH 2019

Will be moving to Athens, GA at the Lyndon House Arts Center. The exhibition will be on view from November 8th - January 12, 2019. This exhibition features a large selection of drawings, sculptures, paintings, regalia, adornments and other examples of art by St. EOM. Through the use of original art, informational text panels, and vintage and contemporary photographs, this colorful exhibit tells the incredible story of the life of St EOM.